Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the presence of total carnitine, free carnitine, short-chain acyl carnitine, long-chain acyl carnitine, acyl carnitine levels and the ratio of acyl carnitine to free carnitine in erythrocytes, whole blood and plasma of Arabian sand gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa marica). Results showed erythrocyte levels of carnitine significantly higher compared to either whole blood or plasma of Arabian sand gazelles (p<0.001). Moreover, the relative distribution of acyl carnitine was higher in erythrocytes compared to most species (p<0.001), however, it was similar to the Arabian camel (p<0.001). The ratio of acyl carnitine to free carnitine was significantly higher in erythrocytes, whole blood and plasma compared to most species (p<0.001). The observed discrepancies in carnitine levels among species and different tissues is well known, however, the reasons for these discrepancies are obscure. The higher carnitine content and a higher acyl carnitine to free carnitine ratio in blood of Arabian sand gazelles may suggest that these animals possess an adaptive mechanism which may be found in other desert animal species. This is the first report describing deer carnitine distributions.